v1.4.7/website/docs/language/settings/backends/azurerm.mdx

---
page_title: 'Backend Type: azurerm'
description: Terraform can store state remotely in Azure Blob Storage.
---

# azurerm

Stores the state as a Blob with the given Key within the Blob Container within [the Blob Storage Account](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/common/storage-introduction).

This backend supports state locking and consistency checking with Azure Blob Storage native capabilities.

~> **Terraform 1.1 and 1.2 supported a feature-flag to allow enabling/disabling the use of Microsoft Graph (and MSAL) rather than Azure Active Directory Graph (and ADAL) - however this flag has since been removed in Terraform 1.3. Microsoft Graph (and MSAL) are now enabled by default and Azure Active Directory Graph (and ADAL) can no longer be used.

## Example Configuration

When authenticating using the Azure CLI or a Service Principal (either with a Client Certificate or a Client Secret):

```hcl
terraform {
  backend "azurerm" {
    resource_group_name  = "StorageAccount-ResourceGroup"
    storage_account_name = "abcd1234"
    container_name       = "tfstate"
    key                  = "prod.terraform.tfstate"
  }
}
```

***

When authenticating using Managed Service Identity (MSI):

```hcl
terraform {
  backend "azurerm" {
    resource_group_name  = "StorageAccount-ResourceGroup"
    storage_account_name = "abcd1234"
    container_name       = "tfstate"
    key                  = "prod.terraform.tfstate"
    use_msi              = true
    subscription_id      = "00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000"
    tenant_id            = "00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000"
  }
}
```

***

When authenticating using OpenID Connect (OIDC):

```hcl
terraform {
  backend "azurerm" {
    resource_group_name  = "StorageAccount-ResourceGroup"
    storage_account_name = "abcd1234"
    container_name       = "tfstate"
    key                  = "prod.terraform.tfstate"
    use_oidc             = true
    subscription_id      = "00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000"
    tenant_id            = "00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000"
  }
}
```

***

When authenticating using Azure AD Authentication:

```hcl
terraform {
  backend "azurerm" {
    storage_account_name = "abcd1234"
    container_name       = "tfstate"
    key                  = "prod.terraform.tfstate"
    use_azuread_auth     = true
    subscription_id      = "00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000"
    tenant_id            = "00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000"
  }
}
```

-> **Note:** When using AzureAD for Authentication to Storage you also need to ensure the `Storage Blob Data Owner` role is assigned.

***

When authenticating using the Access Key associated with the Storage Account:

```hcl
terraform {
  backend "azurerm" {
    storage_account_name = "abcd1234"
    container_name       = "tfstate"
    key                  = "prod.terraform.tfstate"

    # rather than defining this inline, the Access Key can also be sourced
    # from an Environment Variable - more information is available below.
    access_key = "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789..."
  }
}
```

***

When authenticating using a SAS Token associated with the Storage Account:

```hcl
terraform {
  backend "azurerm" {
    storage_account_name = "abcd1234"
    container_name       = "tfstate"
    key                  = "prod.terraform.tfstate"

    # rather than defining this inline, the SAS Token can also be sourced
    # from an Environment Variable - more information is available below.
    sas_token = "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789..."
  }
}
```

-> **NOTE:** When using a Service Principal or an Access Key - we recommend using a [Partial Configuration](/language/settings/backends/configuration#partial-configuration) for the credentials.

## Data Source Configuration

When authenticating using a Service Principal (either with a Client Certificate or a Client Secret):

```hcl
data "terraform_remote_state" "foo" {
  backend = "azurerm"
  config = {
    storage_account_name = "terraform123abc"
    container_name       = "terraform-state"
    key                  = "prod.terraform.tfstate"
  }
}
```

***

When authenticating using Managed Service Identity (MSI):

```hcl
data "terraform_remote_state" "foo" {
  backend = "azurerm"
  config = {
    resource_group_name  = "StorageAccount-ResourceGroup"
    storage_account_name = "terraform123abc"
    container_name       = "terraform-state"
    key                  = "prod.terraform.tfstate"
    use_msi              = true
    subscription_id      = "00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000"
    tenant_id            = "00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000"
  }
}
```

***

When authenticating using OpenID Connect (OIDC):

```hcl
data "terraform_remote_state" "foo" {
  backend = "azurerm"
  config = {
    resource_group_name  = "StorageAccount-ResourceGroup"
    storage_account_name = "terraform123abc"
    container_name       = "terraform-state"
    key                  = "prod.terraform.tfstate"
    use_oidc             = true
    subscription_id      = "00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000"
    tenant_id            = "00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000"
  }
}
```

***

When authenticating using AzureAD Authentication:

```hcl
data "terraform_remote_state" "foo" {
  backend = "azurerm"
  config = {
    storage_account_name = "terraform123abc"
    container_name       = "terraform-state"
    key                  = "prod.terraform.tfstate"
    use_azuread_auth     = true
    subscription_id      = "00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000"
    tenant_id            = "00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000"
  }
}
```

-> **Note:** When using AzureAD for Authentication to Storage you also need to ensure the `Storage Blob Data Owner` role is assigned.

***

When authenticating using the Access Key associated with the Storage Account:

```hcl
data "terraform_remote_state" "foo" {
  backend = "azurerm"
  config = {
    storage_account_name = "terraform123abc"
    container_name       = "terraform-state"
    key                  = "prod.terraform.tfstate"

    # rather than defining this inline, the Access Key can also be sourced
    # from an Environment Variable - more information is available below.
    access_key = "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789..."
  }
}
```

***

When authenticating using a SAS Token associated with the Storage Account:

```hcl
data "terraform_remote_state" "foo" {
  backend = "azurerm"
  config = {
    storage_account_name = "terraform123abc"
    container_name       = "terraform-state"
    key                  = "prod.terraform.tfstate"

    # rather than defining this inline, the SAS Token can also be sourced
    # from an Environment Variable - more information is available below.
    sas_token = "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789..."
  }
}
```

## Configuration Variables

!> **Warning:**  We recommend using environment variables to supply credentials and other sensitive data. If you use `-backend-config` or hardcode these values directly in your configuration, Terraform will include these values in both the `.terraform` subdirectory and in plan files. Refer to [Credentials and Sensitive Data](/language/settings/backends/configuration#credentials-and-sensitive-data) for details.


The following configuration options are supported:

* `storage_account_name` - (Required) The Name of [the Storage Account](https://registry.terraform.io/providers/hashicorp/azurerm/latest/docs/resources/storage_account).

* `container_name` - (Required) The Name of [the Storage Container](https://registry.terraform.io/providers/hashicorp/azurerm/latest/docs/resources/storage_container) within the Storage Account.

* `key` - (Required) The name of the Blob used to retrieve/store Terraform's State file inside the Storage Container.

* `environment` - (Optional) The Azure Environment which should be used. This can also be sourced from the `ARM_ENVIRONMENT` environment variable. Possible values are `public`, `china`, `german`, `stack` and `usgovernment`. Defaults to `public`.

* `endpoint` - (Optional) The Custom Endpoint for Azure Resource Manager. This can also be sourced from the `ARM_ENDPOINT` environment variable.

~> **NOTE:** An `endpoint` should only be configured when using Azure Stack.

* `metadata_host` - (Optional) The Hostname of the Azure Metadata Service (for example `management.azure.com`), used to obtain the Cloud Environment when using a Custom Azure Environment. This can also be sourced from the `ARM_METADATA_HOSTNAME` Environment Variable.

* `snapshot` - (Optional) Should the Blob used to store the Terraform Statefile be snapshotted before use? Defaults to `false`. This value can also be sourced from the `ARM_SNAPSHOT` environment variable.

***

When authenticating using the Managed Service Identity (MSI) - the following fields are also supported:

* `resource_group_name` - (Required) The Name of the Resource Group in which the Storage Account exists.

* `msi_endpoint` - (Optional) The path to a custom Managed Service Identity endpoint which is automatically determined if not specified. This can also be sourced from the `ARM_MSI_ENDPOINT` environment variable.

* `subscription_id` - (Optional) The Subscription ID in which the Storage Account exists. This can also be sourced from the `ARM_SUBSCRIPTION_ID` environment variable.

* `tenant_id` - (Optional) The Tenant ID in which the Subscription exists. This can also be sourced from the `ARM_TENANT_ID` environment variable.

* `use_msi` - (Optional) Should Managed Service Identity authentication be used? This can also be sourced from the `ARM_USE_MSI` environment variable.

***

When authenticating using a Service Principal with OpenID Connect (OIDC) - the following fields are also supported:

* `oidc_request_url` - (Optional) The URL for the OIDC provider from which to request an ID token. This can also be sourced from the `ARM_OIDC_REQUEST_URL` or `ACTIONS_ID_TOKEN_REQUEST_URL` environment variables.

* `oidc_request_token` - (Optional) The bearer token for the request to the OIDC provider. This can also be sourced from the `ARM_OIDC_REQUEST_TOKEN` or `ACTIONS_ID_TOKEN_REQUEST_TOKEN` environment variables.

* `oidc_token` - (Optional) The ID token when authenticating using OpenID Connect (OIDC). This can also be sourced from the `ARM_OIDC_TOKEN` environment variable.

* `oidc_token_file_path` - (Optional) The path to a file containing an ID token when authenticating using OpenID Connect (OIDC). This can also be sourced from the `ARM_OIDC_TOKEN_FILE_PATH` environment variable.

* `use_oidc` - (Optional) Should OIDC authentication be used? This can also be sourced from the `ARM_USE_OIDC` environment variable.

***

When authenticating using a SAS Token associated with the Storage Account - the following fields are also supported:

* `sas_token` - (Optional) The SAS Token used to access the Blob Storage Account. This can also be sourced from the `ARM_SAS_TOKEN` environment variable.

***

When authenticating using the Storage Account's Access Key - the following fields are also supported:

* `access_key` - (Optional) The Access Key used to access the Blob Storage Account. This can also be sourced from the `ARM_ACCESS_KEY` environment variable.

***

When authenticating using AzureAD Authentication - the following fields are also supported:

* `use_azuread_auth` - (Optional) Should AzureAD Authentication be used to access the Blob Storage Account. This can also be sourced from the `ARM_USE_AZUREAD` environment variable.

-> **Note:** When using AzureAD for Authentication to Storage you also need to ensure the `Storage Blob Data Owner` role is assigned.

***

When authenticating using a Service Principal with a Client Certificate - the following fields are also supported:

* `resource_group_name` - (Required) The Name of the Resource Group in which the Storage Account exists.

* `client_id` - (Optional) The Client ID of the Service Principal. This can also be sourced from the `ARM_CLIENT_ID` environment variable.

* `client_certificate_password` - (Optional) The password associated with the Client Certificate specified in `client_certificate_path`. This can also be sourced from the `ARM_CLIENT_CERTIFICATE_PASSWORD` environment variable.

* `client_certificate_path` - (Optional) The path to the PFX file used as the Client Certificate when authenticating as a Service Principal. This can also be sourced from the `ARM_CLIENT_CERTIFICATE_PATH` environment variable.

* `subscription_id` - (Optional) The Subscription ID in which the Storage Account exists. This can also be sourced from the `ARM_SUBSCRIPTION_ID` environment variable.

* `tenant_id` - (Optional) The Tenant ID in which the Subscription exists. This can also be sourced from the `ARM_TENANT_ID` environment variable.

***

When authenticating using a Service Principal with a Client Secret - the following fields are also supported:

* `resource_group_name` - (Required) The Name of the Resource Group in which the Storage Account exists.

* `client_id` - (Optional) The Client ID of the Service Principal. This can also be sourced from the `ARM_CLIENT_ID` environment variable.

* `client_secret` - (Optional) The Client Secret of the Service Principal. This can also be sourced from the `ARM_CLIENT_SECRET` environment variable.

* `subscription_id` - (Optional) The Subscription ID in which the Storage Account exists. This can also be sourced from the `ARM_SUBSCRIPTION_ID` environment variable.

* `tenant_id` - (Optional) The Tenant ID in which the Subscription exists. This can also be sourced from the `ARM_TENANT_ID` environment variable.